Stylish New Orleans Showhouse

No one does classic quite like Southerners. And it doesn’t get any more Southern than St. Charles Avenue in the bustling Uptown District of New Orleans. An 1895 Queen Anne Victorian—complete with stained-glass windows, wrought-iron trim, and an adjacent guest cottage—was the ideal setting for our Southern Style Now Designer Showhouse.

In conjunction with the Southern Style Now Festival, 28 designers with strong Southern ties transformed the home of newlyweds James and Brett Lapeyre to benefit the Preservation Center of New Orleans. See why the second stop on our national showhouse tour is a true decorator’s delight.

Melissa Rufty put a modern spin on the ancient craft of marbling in the foyer and stairwell. She collaborated with textile designer Paige Cleveland of Rule of Three to create the marbleized fabric panels with warm pops of terra-cotta. “The colors are reminiscent of sun-kissed buildings seen throughout Charleston, Savannah, and the Vieux Carré of New Orleans,” Rufty says. Lush botanicals, geometric stairwell carpet, and striped Scalamandré draperies complete the welcoming entry.

William Rankin McLure IV ensured the dining room was multifunctional. The table, skirted in Ralph Lauren Home pinstripe fabric and stacked with books, doubles as a desk. Art pieces—including a black-and-white abstract by the designer—grace the walls, covered in Pratt & Lambert’s “Sutter’s Gold.” “It accents the art while bringing a sense of formality to the room,” McLure says. Lacquered chairs with chinoiserie fretwork turn up the formality. Circa Lighting’s antique-brass chandelier caps the assembly.

Reagan Hayes gave the parlor graphic punch. She coated the ceiling in a dramatic black design. The sofa’s black-and-white geometric upholstery echoes the ceiling. Vintage chairs upholstered in blue velvet offer shapely seats atop a colorful area rug. The aged brass and gunmetal cocktail tables are Hayes’s own designs. An antique Steinway by the windows beckons to be played. The custom flower arrangement is from Natural Decorations Inc.

Denise McGaha “infused color and drama in a Southern way” when decorating the powder room. A large-scale floral wallcovering with black background breathes life into the small space while paying homage to the Garden District. A cast of characters, each in a different frame, ornaments the wall above the vanity from DXV by American Standard. An 18th-century architectural fragment wall mirror reflects the chic sanctuary. The shaded sconce is from Currey & Company.

“It’s a fresh, traditional take on the typical family room,” says Lance Jackson, who collaborated with David Ecton to design the stylish gathering spot. A collection of silhouettes climbs above the desk and around the entryway to create a gallery wall.

Thermador’s stainless-steel range and refrigerator columns are accented by antique-brass sconces and framed art. The polished-chrome faucet and “Hillside” farmhouse sink are from DXV by American Standard. Gold-rimmed dinnerware from Vietri lends class. “It’s a young kitchen with an old soul,” Farmer says.

Emerging outdoors, a central water feature adds charm to the courtyard by Kenneth Rabalais, Jennifer Rabalais, and Tina Lagasse. Woodard’s aluminum dining table and cushioned side chairs enjoy the shade of a black umbrella.

A coordinating lounge chair and ottoman sit pretty atop the standard pavers by AZEK Building Products. Bevolo Gas & Electric Light’s copper lantern illuminates the exterior after sundown. The main house siding is by James Hardie.

Paloma Contreras envisioned the upstairs bedroom as belonging to a young debutante. “She has a hint of a rebellious side—a Southern Lady Mary, if you will,” the designer says. A custom de Gournay wallcovering with 12-karat white gold sets the stage for a feminine sanctuary. Local artisans created the crystal chandelier, abstract art, and iron canopy bed. Ivory linen draperies and monogrammed bedding add to the lavishness. Federal-style convex mirrors crown the ebony bedside tables while peony arrangements by Natural Decorations Inc. complement the Schumacher Euro shams. A sisal rug grounds the room in nubby texture.

Laura Burleson’s bold bathroom design began with the wallcovering. “Its black stroke marks reminded me of Japanese calligraphy but with a modern twist,” says Burleson, who spent part of her childhood in Asia. Custom flower sconces outline the sink, which features a chrome faucet from DXV by American Standard. Furry stools nestle between the chrome-and-acrylic vanity base.

The sitting room by Catherine Brooks Giuffre is pretty in pink. Pratt & Lambert’s “Soapstone” paint teams with coordinating draperies to drench the space in blush. Perched atop an antique Persian rug, acrylic swivel chairs urge guests to gab in front of the fireplace. A large gilt mirror and a pair of crystal sconces glisten above the mantel. The antique-brass floor lamp is by Circa Lighting.

The gallery hall curated by Robert Leleux overflows with eye-catching works by Southern artists. From large-scale abstracts and etchings to botanicals, portraiture, and landscapes, the colorful configuration captivates guests. “I wanted it to be as distinct and varied as a real-life collection and as New Orleans itself,” Leleux says.

“It’s informally formal, packed with personality, and all about Louisiana,” says Brian Patrick Flynn of the art-filled den. The leather English sofa, French armchairs, modern club chairs, and pierced tables are all by Ballard Designs. Classic blue-and-white upholstery keeps the lively space cohesive. A black-and-white hide overlaps the neutral woven rug while a bronze-and-crystal chandelier glistens above.

The spacious hall bath by Catherine Olasky and Maximilian Sinsteden features twin console sinks with polished-nickel faucets from DXV by American Standard. Simple framed mirrors and shaded sconces keep the bath from becoming cluttered.

“I tried to stay away from anything overwhelmingly serious,” Ware M. Porter says of the master bedroom. Tonal striped walls and a bevy of custom lampshades set the tailored tenor. The stately bed corona and curtains were achieved using textiles from Quadrille. Its blue-striped interior fabric repeats on the skirted ottoman and armchair. Patterned wool carpet, monogrammed bed linens, and a glitzy chandelier amplify the opulence. A leather-topped writing table, a cane-back chair, and 18th-century paintings form a sophisticated workstation.

A tented ceiling treatment, à la Dorothy Draper, captivates in the cottage living room by Lisa Mende. “Guests enter and instantly feel happy and energized,” she says. The designer hung the valance and draperies to hide an unattractive air vent. A portrait of Frida Kahlo by local artist Ashley Longshore commands the back wall. Ballard Designs’ pink sofa and club chairs upholstered in vintage ticking stripe join antique tête-à-tête chairs with gilt frames to encircle an acrylic coffee table by Century.

The guest cottage bathroom by Betsey Nixon Hazard is beautiful in blue and ivory. Stark’s lush foliage wallcovering climbs up the walls and along the ceiling. Pratt & Lambert’s “Russian Blue” lacquer paint continues the color story on the wall trim. A plaster wall sconce keeps to the botanical theme. All plumbing fixtures are from DXV by American Standard.